- There is little written about the history of Highland Dancing, as it was passed from generation to generation through dance, song and story telling. It was preserved by dancers teaching the dances to their students, rather than by codification and recordation.
- Because Highland Dancing was passed down through the generations through performance, it varies by region. Dancers were trained in the local style, and each region slowly developed a unique style of dance.
- Highland dancing is aerobically demanding, and in past centuries was used by in the military to provide exercise to the troops. It is very athletic, and similar to sprinting, which was necessary for training the Scottish military.
- The most common Highland dance is the "Fling," which is a dance of celebration. Historically, the Fling was performed after victory in battle. The dance requires agility, intricate footwork and strength.
- In the early 1900's Highland Dance competitions were limited to boys. Today, however, the girls outnumber the boys in large numbers.
- Highland Dance is performed in Scotland and around the world. It is common wherever there are Scotish people, including New Zealand, Australia and the United States. Highland Dance Competitions are common, and there are codified dances and costumes to be used for competition.
